Introduction -- The importance of everything but oil -- A theory about oil, policymakers, and the business environment -- Oil and the business environment in Iran -- Doing business in India's mining belt -- Reform in the Gulf Arab context: Saudi Arabia since the 1990s -- Conclusion

The paper presents a strategic and practical guide for how to design and implement action research in value chains in a way that integrates poverty, environmental and gender concerns. The focus is on small producers in developing countries and other weak chain actors such as small trading and...